We are looking to do a in-depth article for our blog on what steps the average joe needs to know/do to reach financial freedom in retirement. You all know a heck of a lot more about this subject, than we do, so we figured we would ask you first. If anyone is interested, and has a knack for writing feel free to shoot me a PM for more details. *puts on protective suit*

I'd offer to write it, but it would be inferior to something that Dave Hanson or someone like him would write.

dealmaster00

Senior Member - 4K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 1:48p

First, pay off all high-interest debt. Live below your means. If and only if you can do these first two things, invest in low cost, non-managed index funds. Choose an asset allocation that is suitable for your ability and need to take risk. Max out your IRA, and put as much money as possible in your 401(k) (there is a thread about how maxing your 401(k) leads to a middle-class retirement). Read literature and research so you can come to your own conclusions rather than merely following the advice of others (I'd recommend the Bogleheads' Guide to Investing as a good starting point).

Hmm well first piece of advice is to give the thread a more descriptive title

forbin4040

Senior Member - 8K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 2:05p

Just plagarize from Dave Ramsay

MarsdenFubar (Staff)

~overkill~

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 2:09p

chantspel said: Hmm well first piece of advice is to give the thread a more descriptive title

Better?

kwest

Ancient Member

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 2:25p

Make some $. Spend less than that.

Squeezer99

Addicted Member

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 2:30p

MarsdenFubar said: Hi all,

We are looking to do a in-depth article for our blog on what steps the average joe needs to know/do to reach financial freedom in retirement. You all know a heck of a lot more about this subject, than we do, so we figured we would ask you first. If anyone is interested, and has a knack for writing feel free to shoot me a PM for more details. *puts on protective suit*

earn more, spend less. If your company has a 401k (especially one with a matching %), put what you can up to matching, then put the rest into a ROTH IRA, then put more into the 401k. If you still have $ left over, look into other options such as dividend investing, rental properties, etc.

Bagofchips

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 2:43p

I don't think you have the intestinal fortitude to mention some of the tactics advised here.

DamnoIT

Get postin moar dealzzzzz!

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 3:04p

In addition to the what to do a how to do what is right investment wise for your situation. Stuff I would add (falling back to some stuff from boogleheads)

1. Forming an investment policy statement that you review annually or at an interval where you spell out short mid and long term financial goals and expand on how you can attain them. Keep your investments clear and not riddled with expense, management tax, or

2. Create a personalized formula to determine your risk tolerance. After you have your accounts formed one option is a simple strategy of age in quality intermediate bonds as a percent of portfolio (less for more volatility more for less volatility, generally not to exceed 70% bonds) then split the remainder 50/50ish into domestic and international blended equity funds.

4. Understand the value of compounded interest or return, a percent delta may not sound like much but compounded over time it can be tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Just a few I would add, I abstained from a PM to keep this discussion flowing.

LordB

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 5:09p

You probably should have made an alt to ask this.

Crazytree

Senior Member - 10K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 5:11p

I'll do it if I'm asked nicely.

ZenNUTS

Deez

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 5:15p

^^ that might work.

the whole point of a blog (vs a forum) is for the blog's owner to express some ideas/opinion then invite others to comment on it. The blog owner have control over the feedback as well. So unless FW is willing to give higher authority to the writer of the piece, I'm not sure anyone would be willing to step forward.

ellory

Be vewy vewy quiet

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 6:10p

MarsdenFubar said: Hi all,

We are looking to do a in-depth article for our blog on what steps the average joe needs to know/do to reach financial freedom in retirement. You all know a heck of a lot more about this subject, than we do, so we figured we would ask you first. If anyone is interested, and has a knack for writing feel free to shoot me a PM for more details. *puts on protective suit*This is FWF

We are looking to do a in-depth article for our blog on what steps the average joe needs to know/do to reach financial freedom in retirement.

Like ltcm says, FW has a blog?

Point being, if we could see what this blog looks like, learn more about its context/objectives, we'd be in a better position to comment on this interesting idea.

RedCelicaGT said: I'd offer to write it, but it would be inferior to something that Dave Hanson or someone like him would write.

Thank you for the kind words. I would consider writing up something, as I'm sure others would. But I'd like to know more about your objectives; have a draft vetted by many of the good people here; and have editorial control over what was said.

Crazytree

Senior Member - 10K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 8:22p

Mine would be more entertaining. :p

GermanExpat

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 8:26p

You could always make it a wiki and let the collective wisdom of the crowd write it. Not sure how the result would look like though with the tough crowd here .

maxfleischer

rehcsielfxam

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 8:37p

If someone does write it, they should surely be paid. Why should a loyal member who brings eyeballs to FW - eyeballs attached to people who often end up using FatCash to give FW a nice CashBack fee - write something for free? Obviously, the piece is intended to attract more eyes to the site and more money to FW; FW should certainly pay for that privilege. IMO (FWIW), this sounds like such a ridiculous puff piece a la bankrate; I'd be surprised if someone on here would write it. Not to mention the fact that the question itself is ridiculously broad and the answer varies significantly from individual to individual. (Also, OP - take a lesson on comma usage.)

..Wait a second. Could this have just been an elaborate rouse to draw FWF's attention to the FW blog?!?

No.. They wouldn't have..

Crazytree

Senior Member - 10K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 9:41p

GermanExpat said: You could always make it a wiki and let the collective wisdom of the crowd write it. Not sure how the result would look like though with the tough crowd here .I think they just want a fluffy piece. The average FW reader doesn't want to watch finance nerds and lawyers swordfighting over isoteric points.

whodini

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 10:38p

He wants us to do his homework?

Mikul

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 10:55p

Crazytree said: GermanExpat said: You could always make it a wiki and let the collective wisdom of the crowd write it. Not sure how the result would look like though with the tough crowd here .I think they just want a fluffy piece. The average FW reader doesn't want to watch finance nerds and lawyers swordfighting over isoteric points.

It is something that can be posted on Facebook for the average person to take a look at for 10 seconds. KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid.

germanpope

Graceful Member

posted: Jan. 25, 2013 @ 11:16p

while the intentions are good, the wisdom of FWF can't be put in a bottle or summarized in a blog

true learning comes from active participation in many discussions over many years

the blog should simply tell people to tighten up their chin straps and jump in the fray

BEEFjerKAY

Pics?

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 12:07a

Crazytree said: I think they just want a fluffy piece.

I'm not sure I'd want to be fluffing anyone's piece.

Didn't realize it was that kind of blog.

ZenNUTS

Deez

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 12:54a

Crazytree said: Mine would be more entertaining. :pI would like to see CT rewrite his famous guide to gents club.

qcumber98

Pickled

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 2:14a

I thought this forum was a blog. /shrugs/

BostonOne

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 6:40a

Also, make a plan for how much you want to save and what you total savings/investments will be by year. Adjust this plan annually based on where you are relative to those goals.

BEEFjerKAY

Pics?

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 7:27a

ZenNUTS said: Crazytree said: Mine would be more entertaining. :pI would like to see CT rewrite his famous guide to gents club.

Just so long as he does not parse the entire text of The Aristocrats into the quick tags.

That would be wrong.

BEEFjerKAY

Pics?

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 7:29a

germanpope said: while the intentions are good, the wisdom of FWF can't be put in a bottle

Agreed.

The process is almost exactly the opposite.

In general, the wisdom of FWF seems to have come out of some bottle.

BEEFjerKAY

Pics?

posted: Jan. 26, 2013 @ 7:47a

maxfleischer said: If someone does write it, they should surely be paid. Why should a loyal member who brings eyeballs to FW - eyeballs attached to people who often end up using FatCash to give FW a nice CashBack fee - write something for free?

Something, BTW, that part of what was pitched to Tim et al in 2005-2007, IIRC. And went nowhere. Causing the content generators to go elsewhere.

Here's a tip: Make sure you're paid fairly for services performed - you know, like writing a blog for a company that wants to use the content YOU provide for FREE to make money for themselves. (Kind of a new spin on "pay your bills, deadbeat.")

SomeOtherChick

Senior Member

posted: Jan. 27, 2013 @ 8:01p

ltcm said: Fatwallet has a blog?

I'll write an article about which links to put in your page footer vs page header.

Skipping 7 Messages...

MarsdenFubar (Staff)

~overkill~

posted: Jan. 28, 2013 @ 2:06p

LordB said: You probably should have made an alt to ask this.

Meh, I have been around long enough to know that in FWF you may get your butt handed to you, and if you are not a know it all, and respect the wisdom here, you will pull some of the best information on the intrawebs out of it. An alt would not stop either of those scenarios.

Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.

Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.

FatWallet coupons help you save more when shopping online. Use our Coupons Search to browse coupons and offers from thousands of stores, gathered into one convenient location.

Forums
As part of our FatWallet Community, you can share deals with almost a million shoppers in our forums. Forum content is generated by consumers for consumers. Share deals, money-saving tips, and more. It's FREE, fun, and addicting.

Support
Our customer experience team is here around the clock - real people ready to assist.